What does "vintage" on a wine label indicate?

The term "vintage" on a wine label specifically refers to the year in which the grapes used to produce that wine were harvested. Knowing the vintage is essential for understanding the characteristics of the wine, as climate, weather conditions, and vineyard practices can vary significantly from year to year. These factors can influence the flavor profile, quality, and overall experience of the wine.

While the age of the wine is related to the vintage, it is not the same thing; the wine may be older than its vintage year depending on how long it has been aged after fermentation. The region of production indicates where the grapes were grown, and the grape variety specifies the type of grape used — neither of these is captured by the term vintage. Therefore, the correct interpretation of "vintage" is intricately tied to the year of grape harvesting, making option B the accurate choice.